Physical therapy
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The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of various combinations of burst and carrier frequencies of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on subjects' perception of pain intensity associated with induction of high intensity muscle contractions. Twenty-seven healthy volunteers completed the study. ⋯ The combinations of burst frequencies (50, 70, and 90 bps) and carrier frequencies (2,500 and 5,000 Hz) do not differ from each other in perceived pain intensity but do differ significantly in perceived pain from the combinations of burst frequencies at the carrier frequency of 10,000 Hz. Thus, the clinician may have to try different stimulus combinations on patients at different current training levels to obtain the least individually perceived pain.